Not sure if tank is an effective weapon in those high rarified battlefields in Himalayas. I suppose India should look to beef up on long range rocket launchers and artillery (M777 is a really good choice given its weight and reliability).
IMHO India shouldn't get fazed by Chinese induction of light tank (there already are reports it ain't really light), but focus on developing roads and airstrips along eastern borders.
@Joe Shearer Sir your views. can we expect to see a tank battle in hypothetical scenario of war in eastern theatre?
Certainly, there isn't much scope for tanks on the eastern theatre, in Arunachal, Bhutan and Sikkim. The topography simply doesn't permit much tank movement. If I remember correctly, the PLA used artillery mainly at their starting points, from relatively fixed positions, but the development of the attack was done largely by infantry armed with typical heavy infantry weapons - 2" and 3" mortars, LMGs, MMGs and HMGs, and the like. Today that role would be filled out by including MANPADs, as you have suggested.
As for M777 and rocket launchers, I am not sure what you mean.
The M777 will need to be transferred from point to point as the attacks develop. It is meant to be used with helicopter transfers. The picture in my mind's eye is the equivalent of the Royal Horse Artillery, but in a modern avatar, the Rashtriya Heliborne Artillery
Kidding aside, it will take years of doctrine development, development of operating procedures and rigorous and sustained combined arms training and battle drills, and realistic simulation of enemy action, reflecting their strong points, before any kind of effective results can be visualised.
About the long-range rocket launchers, I feel uncomfortable. What kind of rockets/ missiles did you have in mind? Cruise missiles, ballistic missiles or multi-barrel rocket launchers? You will understand my concerns once you conceptual possible usage along these axes.
